Active travel in Glasgow: what we’ve learned so far

This report brings together GCPH learning on transport and health, with a specific focus on active travel.

In 2007, the GCPH established a programme of work to gather and analyse information about levels of active travel, to improve understanding of trends and influences on travel choices, and to evaluate the impact of transport policies and programmes on active, sustainable travel in Glasgow and the Clyde Valley area. Since then the programme has collated and analysed national survey and routine data to provide information and trends on modes of travel and casualties for different population groups, conducted wide-ranging research to explore travel patterns and attitudes towards active travel in and around Glasgow, and convened seminars and workshops to discuss the emerging issues and possible ways forward.

The report emphasises the importance of:

greater leadership and investment in active travel, and improved co-ordination across transport, planning, health improvement, air quality and climate change policies and programmes

raising the profile of active travel in urban planning and infrastructure development

supporting culture and behaviour change, as part of a wider strategic approach

improving monitoring data on active travel, in order to understand which interventions are impacting on active travel trends and how.

This report follows the synthesis of ten years of GCPH evidence published in October 2014 which emphasised, in line with international evidence, the importance of economic, environmental and social factors on health. It is intended to stimulate thinking and provide the basis for discussion with and between the Centre’s partners and networks about the further actions that are needed to increase levels of active travel in Scotland.